Glass-grinding machine



Nov. 13, 1934. M. R. scHoTTLAND 1,980,932

GLASS GRINDINQ MACHINE Filed Sept. l5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATT'OR EY M. R. scHoTTLAND 1,980,932

GLASS GRINDING MACHINE Nov. 13, 1934.

E? #i fj Nov. 13, 1934.

M. R. SCHOTTLAND GLASS GRINDING MACHINE Filed sept. 15 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i' ATT'oR EY rfi Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNirec srnres emr oFFIcE 1,980,932 GLASS-catimini; MACHINE Michael R. Schottland, Martinsville, Va. Application September 13, 1932, Serial No. 632,972

19 Ciaims.

The invention relates to apparatus for grinding the edges of glass sheets, panes or panels, for instance such als *mayv be used for mirrors, lamp lenses, windshields, and many other purposes too numerous to mention.

The principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a novel machine by means of which edges oi glass panes may be ground and Annished regardless ci whether the edges be straight or curved.

Another object is to provide a machine of this type embodying a plurality of grinding disks rotating in diierent directions so that when actj ing upon the edges of aglass panel there will be no tendency to move the panel lengthwise in either direction, this being cf advantage in that it prevents the glass from being pulled out of the grasp of the operator.

Another object is to provide a device of this type in which the grinding wheel supports are movably mounted so as to provide a yielding pressure against the edges of the glass, means being also provided for varying the pressure.

Another object is to provide machines of this character constructed as rights and lefts so that two of them may be used side by side, thereby increasing the number of grinding wheels operating on the glass and simplifying the work of I grinding large pieces.

A more specific object is to provide a grinding machine in which the grinding disks are carried by rotatably mounted or rockably mounted sup# porting arms having adjustable counterbalancing weights thereon so that the pressure of the disks against the glass may be properly regulated. j

An additional object is to provide a machine ofv this character' which will be simple and inexpensive to make, easy to assemble and adjust, positive and rapid in action, eicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferablyk consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully describedA and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: j

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is an elevationof the upper part taken at right angles to Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view,

Figure 4 is a detail cross section through one of the disk carrying arms and showing the detail of the adjustable Weights,

Figure 5 is an elevation taken at right angles to Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view showing a means for applying water to the grinding disks,

Figure 7 is a side elevation showing two of the 3U machines constructed as a right and a left and arranged to operate simultaneously upon a sheet of glass.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I have shown the device as comprising a frame l structure which may be of any preferred specic construction but which is here represented as including end members 10 of upright form to which are secured angularly offset upwardly exv tending arms 11 carrying a transverse bar 12 70 for a purpose to be described. Mounted upon the top of the end members' 10V are bearings each including a bed or base 13 bolted onto the end member 10 and having an upstanding projection 14 with an inclined toprsurface 15 upon 75 which engages the inclined bottom surface 16 of a movable base plate 17 from which rises a bearing element 18. On the base plate 13 are upstanding projections 19 through which are threaded screws 20 and 21. One screwy 204e`n-V 80 gages against the end of the projection 14 while the other engages against the opposite end of?` the member 17 and by adjustingthe screws 20 it-will be apparent that the bearing member may be shifted laterally upon the member 10, the 85' desired adjusted position being maintained by means of the screws 2l. The reason for this will be explained.

There is of course such a bearing structure on each one of the end members 10 Aand journaled 90 through the members 18 is a shaft 22 equipped at one end with a stepped pulley 23 adapted to be driven by a belt 24 trained about a pulley 25y onl the shaft of an electric motor 26 mounted at the lower portion of one of the frame members 95 10. Obviously any equivalent means may be provided for rotating the shaft 22.

Y Pivotally mounted 0n the shaft 22 and located between the end members 10 are arms 27 each j equipped at one end with a bearing 28 through 100 which is journaled a spindle 29 equipped at one` end with a pulley 30. These arm members 27 are provided intermediate their ends with bearing portions 31 which actually engage uponA theY y shaft 22. Secured upon the shaft 22 between the 105 hub portions 31 of the successive arms 27 are pulleys 32 about which are engaged belts 33 which in turn engage about the pulleys 30. It will be noted thatr the belt on the intermediate s'et of pulleys is crossed so that while two of the H9 spindles 29 rotate in one direction the other one will rotate in the opposite direction. The other end of each of the arms 27, that is to say the end remote from the spindle 29, carries anadjustable counterbalancing weight 34, the actual construction being most clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 wherein it will be observed that each weight is provided with upstanding hooks engaging over trunnions 36 projecting laterally from a collar 37 slidable along the arm 27 and held in adjusted position as by a set screw 38.

l Mounted on the free end of each of the spindles 29 is grinding means preferably comprising two or more disks 39 peripherally grooved at one edge so that a groove 40 will be defined at the juncture of each pair. Figures 2 and 3 show but one pair of disks on each spindle but Figure 6 shows three as this will provide for two Working grooves.

It is of course highly desirable that water be supplied to the grinding disks and while this is a feature embodied in a joint application of my self and Robert A. Fontaine for Grinding machines, filed of even date herewith, I have for the sake of completeness shown the expedient. Referring to Figure 6, in particular, it will be observed that each spindle 29 is disclosed as having a reduced extension 4l and a bore 42 arranged axially and communicating with lateral passages 43 which are located at the junctures of the disks 39. Between the disks there are preferably sheets or padsvof absorbent material 44 which will conduct water from the passages 43 to the actual grinding peripheries. The disks 39 are held in'assembled relation between washers 45, one of which abuts against the shoulder 46 on the spindle and the other of which is engaged by a nut 47. Beyond this nut a coupling 48 is swiveled on thespindle and is held in place by an interiorly located nut element 49. A hollow lug 50 closes the end of the coupling 48 and has connected therewith a tube 5l which extends out through the side and which has engaged thereon arubber hose 52 leading from a convenient source of water supply. It should be distinctly understood that while I am showing and describing the water feed the same is not being claimed in this application for the reason that, as mentioned above, it forms part of the joint application mentioned.

In the use of the device, it will of course bey seen that when the motor 26 is in operation the pulley 23 and consequently the shaft 22 will be driven, the rotary movement of the latter being imparted by means of the belts 33 to all of the spindles 29, the two outermost of which will rotate in one direction and the intermediate one in the other direction. The grinding disks mounted on the spindles will of course be rotated likewise. The pane, panel or sheet of glass 53 is held by the operator and is positioned to bring its edges in engagement within the grooves 40 in the grinding disks so that the edges may be properly dressed. If the glass has a straight edge which is intended to be left in that condition the edge would be passed back and forth over all the disks and if it has a curved edge, such as shown in Figure l, it may be moved into engagement with and then moved about with respect to the endmost grinder. The position of the weights 34 along the arms 27 will determine the pressure exerted by the grinding disks against the edge of a piece of glass held down on them,

swing as shown by the dot and dash lines in Figure Clearlyif a lighter grindingaction be ward the free ends.

it being clear that the arms may desired the weights 34 should be moved closer to the shaft 22 whereas if a heavy grinding pressure should be needed they should be moved out to- Regardless of whatever adjustinent may be necessary, the edges of the glass plate are treated as indicated until'they have reached the desired finished condition or state. The machine is particularly vwell adapted for grinding the serpentine or other curved edges of a glass plate in a manner analogous to the treatment of a straight edge, that is to say the glass is arranged with its serpentine or regularly or irregularly curved edge uponA the series of disks and within'the grooves thereof, the grooves of course acting as guides. When the operator holds the glass down and moves it back and forth over the disks the edge will be dressed andit is for performing this function that I have provided the important feature of the swingability of the arms which carry the disks, it being apparent that as a high spot on the edge of ther glass engages against a disk that disk will be moved downwardly, the arm carrying it consequently swinging downwardly against the resistance of the adjustable Weight. The arms and disks are therefore capable of accommodating themselves to conditions and if the weights are properly adjusted each disk will bear with the same degreev of pressure against the edge of the glass so that the grinding thereof will be carried out in a uniform manner.

It might be mentioned that Whenever the arms 27 are swung down by pressing a glass plate upon the grinding disks and are then permitted to return to normal condition when the glass plate is lifted off the free ends of the arms will strike upon the angle bar 12 which serves as a stop, it being preferable that pads 54 be provided on the angle bar for taking up the shock. It is of course necessary that the belts 33 be kept taut in order to obtain maximum efficiency and it is for this reason that the adjustment comprising the parts 13 -to 21 is provided in association with the bearings for the shaft 22, it being clear that if the bearings be shifted in a direction away from the grinding disks the belts will be tightened. Serpentine or` other irregularly shaped edges such as are often desirable in mirrors and for other ornamental` purposes can be ground very readily with this machine. I

In case quicker work is desired I find it of advantage to use two of the machines formed as a right and a left, as shown in Figure 7, the

two machines A and B being identical` in construction and as above described but being karranged with the grinding disks of one adjacent the grinding disks ofthe other. A pane of glass C may then be positioned and moved along the two sets of grinding disks as indicated and in this way the edges of a comparatively long pane may be ground in half the time that would be required if only a single machine were to be used.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided asimply constructed, inexpensive and very easily operated and controlledmachine by means of which the straight,` regularly curved and also irregularly curved edges of glass panes, panels or pieces for yall sorts of purposes may be effectually dressed off with but little labor and in a short time without requiring any great degree of skill. The simplicity of the device renders it unlikely to get out of order and it should therefore be durable and recommend itself for the` purposes intended. It is believed from vthe above iso 'lift that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a glass grinding machine, a supporting frame, a shaft journaled in said frame, means for rotating the shaft, a plurality of arms rockably mounted on said shaft a plurality of grinding disks carried by said arms arranged in spaced edge to edge relation and in the same vertical plane, and means operated from said shaft for rotating said disks.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of arms having a common pivot therein and arranged side by side and each carrying a spindle having grinding disks mounted thereon, means normally maintaining said arms in a substantially horizontal position, said disks being located in spaced edge to edge relation and in the same vertical plane, and means for rotating said spindles.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of arms pivoted therein and each carrying av spindle having grinding disks mounted thereon, adjustable counterbalancing means connected with said arms for normally maintaining said arms in a substantially horizontal position, said disks being located in spaced edge to edge relation and in the same vertical plane, and means for rotating said spindles in opposite directions.

4. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a shaft journaled therein, a plurality of arms swingably mounted on said shaft, means normally maintaining said arms in substantially horizontal position, a spindle carried by each of said arms, a grooved grinding disk carried by each spindle, said disks being in spaced edge to edge relation and in alinement, and means operatively connecting said shaft and said spindles for rotating the disks.

5. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a shaft journaled therein, a plurality of arms pivoted on said shaft, counterbalance means mounted on said arms, stop means for limiting swinging movement of said arms in one direction, a spindle journaled through each of said arms, grooved grinding disks on said spindles arranged in spaced edge to edge relation and in alinement, and a driving connection between said shaft and each of said spindles.

6. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, a plurality of arms swingably mounted in the frame and having a common axis, spindles carried by said arms, counterbalance means for the arms, grooved grinding disks carried by the spindles and arranged in alined spaced edge to edge relation, and means for rotating said spindles.

'7. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of arms swingably mounted therein and having a common axis, a counterbalance means adjustably mounted along said arms at one end thereof, stop means for limiting swinging movement of the arms in one direction, spindles rotatably mounted through the other ends of the arms, grooved grinding disks carried by said spindles and arranged in spaced edge to edge relation and in alinement, and means for rotating said spindles and hence the grinding disks.

8. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, bearing members mounted thereon, a shaft journaled through said bearing elements and equipped with drive means, a plurality of arms pivoted intermediate their ends upon said shaft and carrying spindles equipped with grinding disks arranged in spaced edge to edge relation and in the same vertical plane, pulleys on said shaft between said arms, pulleys on said spindles, belts trained about corresponding ones of the rst and second named pulleys, and means connected with said arms for normally maintaining them in substantially horizontal position.

9. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, bearing members mounted thereon, a shaft iournaled through said bearing elementsv and equipped with drive means, a plurality of arms pivoted intermediate their ends upon said shaft and carrying spindles equipped with grinding disks arranged in spacededge to edge relation and in the same Vertical plane, pulleys on said shaft between said arms, pulleys on said spindles, belts trained about corresponding ones of the first and second named pulleys, and means connected with said arms for normally maintaining them in substantially horizontal position, said bearings being adjustable transversely of the frame for regulating the tension 0n said 110 belts.

l0. In a machine of the character described, a supporting frame, bearing members mounted thereon, a shaft journaled through said bearing elements and equipped with drive means, a plurality of arms pivoted intermediate their ends upon said shaft and carrying spindles equipped with grinding disks arranged in spaced edge to edge relation and in the same vertical plane, pulleys on said shaft between said arms, pulleys on said spindles, belts trained about corresponding ones of the first and second named pulleys, means connected with said arms for normally maintaining them in substantially horizontal position, said means comprising collars slidably adjustably 125 mounted along the arms, and weights depending from said collars.

1l. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of arms swingably mounted in said frame and carrying 130 rotary grinding disks arranged in alinement, collars slidably adjustably mounted on said arms and movable therealong, means for securing the collars in selected positions, trunnions projecting laterally from each collar, and weights each 135 having spaced arms pivotally suspended from said trunnions for substantially counterbalancing the arms and the grinding disks thereon.

12. In a glass grinding machine, a supporting frame, a shaft journaled therein, a plurality of 146 arms rockably mounted on said shaft independent of rotation thereof, means for driving said shaft, spindles carried by said arms and equipped wtih grinding disks, and means for driving said spindles from said shaft, said arms being of progressively 145 greater length whereby said grinding disks will be located in series in the same plane and one in front of another.

13. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting frame, a shaft journaled 15@ therein, means for driving the shaft, al plurality of arms swingably mounted on said shaft and carrying spindles equipped with grinding disks and pulleys, pulleys on said shaft, belts engaged about corresponding ones of the first and second` 14. A machine of the character described com-1' prising the combination of a pair of supporting frames located in end to end relation, a shaft journaled in each frame, a plurality of arms swingably mounted on each shaft, a spindle carried by each of said arms, a grooved grinding disk carried by each spindle, and means operatively connecting each shaft with the spindles in theassociated frame, said frames being arranged with one set of grinding disks disposed in series with the grinding disks in the other frame whereby a tandem arrangement is produced. i

15. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting frame, a. shaft journaled therein, means for driving the shaft, a plurality of arms swingably mounted on said shaft and arranged in parallel side by side relation, said arms being of progressively increasing length, spindles projecting laterally from the respective arms and carrying grinding disks, said spindles being likewise of progressively increasing length whereby all of the grinding disks will be located in series in the same plane and in front of one another, and drive connections between said shaft I and the respective spindles.

16. In a glass grinding machine, a supporting frame, a shaft journaled therein, means for driving the shaft, a plurality of arms of progressively increasing length swingably mounted intermediate their ends upon said shaft, laterally extending spindles journaled through said arms at one end thereof and carrying grinding disks, said spindles being likewise of progressively increasing length whereby the grinding disks will be disposed in series and in the same vertical plane, a drive connection between said shaft and said spindles, means on the other ends of said arms for counterbalancing the weight of the spindles and grinding disks whereby the arms will be normally maintained in a substantially horizontal position, and an abutment located beneath the second named ends of said arms for limiting their swinging movement in one direction. i

17. In a glass grinding machine, a supporting frame, a shaft, a series of arms swingably mounted on the shaft, spindles carried by said arms and equipped with grinding disks, a drive'connection between said shaft and said spindles, bearings for said shaft, supports on the frame beneath said bearings, a pulley on said shaft, a motor mounted within the frame and having a pulley, a belt trained about said pulleys for rotating the shaft, and means for adjusting said bearings toward or from the motor for regulating the tension of said belt.

18. In a glass grinding machine, a supporting frame, a shaft, a series of arms swingably mounted on the shaft, spindles carried by said arms and equipped with grinding disks, a drive connection between said shaft and said spindles, bearings for said shaft, supports on the frame beneath said bearings, a pulley on said shaft, a motor mounted within the lframe and having a pulley, a belt trained about said pulleys for rotating the shaft, said bea-rings and the supporting members therebeneath having inclined faces, and means for shifting the bearings laterally whereby the coaction between the yinclined faces will move the shaft for adjusting the tension on said belt.

19. In a glass grinding machine, a supporting frame, a shaft, a series of arms swingably mounted on the shaft, spindles carried by said arms and equipped with grinding disks, a drive connection between said shaft and said spindlesbearings for said shaft, supports on the frame beneath said bearings, a pulley on said shaft, a motor mounted within the frame and having a pulley, a belt trained about said pulleys for rotating vthe shaft, said bearings and thesupporting members therebeneath having coacting laterally inclined faces, and screw means. engaging opposite sides of the bearings for effecting lateral shifting thereof upon the supporting members therebeneath whereby the coaction between said inclined faces Will move the bearings toward kor from the motor for regulating the tension on the belt.

MICHAEL R. scHo'rTLAND.v I

iso 

